System and device for cutting and reducing rod segments

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for making cigarettes by forming a continuous cigarette rod and continuously advancing the formed rod axially, cutting segments of predetermined lengths each equal to multiple cigarettes from the advancing rod, and cutting each segment into cigarettes of equal predetermined lengths before the next succeeding segment is cut from the continuous rod. Two rotatable discs are mounted on an angularly adjustable base, the discs being mutually parallel, spaced from each other and mounted on a shaft that is vertically inclined with respect to a horizontally advancing cigarette rod. A vertical plane passing through the shaft is parallel to a vertical plane passing through the rod. Each disc has a cutting blade mounted thereon, the blades being angularly displaced by 180*. A pair of ledgers are mounted on supports, are spaced axially along the rod, are separated by a hollow guide for receiving and supporting a portion of the rod between the ledgers, and are connected to gear driven links which cause the supports and the ledgers thereon to reciprocate in opposite directions along the rod. When the upstream disc encounters the rod, it cuts off a segment of two cigarette lengths. The segment advances so as to be supported by the guide and the downstream ledger where the second disc cuts the same into two cigarettes before the next segment is cut by the upstream disc.

nited States Patent [191 Cristiani [11] 3,782,229 Jan.1,1974

[ 1 SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

[22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 305,925

[52] US. Cl. 83/37, 83/310, 83/356.l,

131/33, 131/64, 131/65, 131/78 [51] Int. Cl. A240 05/12 [58] Field of Search 131/33, 63, 64, 65, 131/78, 84 R; 83/356.l, 357, 303

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,417 2/1896 Baron 131/65 639,677 12/1899 Gilliland 131/65 1,786,519 12/1930 Chandler..... 131/65 UX 2,367,911 1/1945 Wells 131/65 X 3,372,702 3/1968 Bohn et a1. 131/65 X 3,476,002 11/1969 Bardenhagen et a1. 83/355 X 3,636,806 1/1972 Vyncke 83/357 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 131/65 Primary ExaminerJoseph S. Reich Att0rney-George W. Price [5 7 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for making cigarettes by forming a continuous cigarette rod and continuously advancing the formed rod axially, cutting segments of predetermined lengths each equal to multiple cigarettes from the advancing rod, and cutting each segment into cigarettes of equal predetermined lengths before the next succeeding segment is cut from the continuous rod.

Two rotatable discs are mounted on an angularly adjustable base, the discs being mutually parallel, spaced from each other and mounted on a shaft that is vertically inclined with respect to a horizontally advancing cigarette rod. A vertical plane passing through the shaft is parallel to a vertical plane passing through the rod. Each disc has a cutting blade mounted thereon, the blades being angularly displaced by 180. A pair of ledgers are mounted on supports, are spaced axially along the rod, are separated by a hollow guide for receiving and supporting a portion of the rod between the ledgers, and are connected to gear driven links which cause the supports and the ledgers thereon to reciprocate in opposite directions along the rod. When the upstream disc encounters the rod, it cuts off a segment of two cigarette lengths. The segment advances so as to be supported by the guide and the downstream ledger where the second disc cuts the same into two cigarettes before the next segment is cut by the upstream disc.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 1:974 3.782 229 sum as; 2

lllllllllllllllll' illllllllll v .Im-m -4 SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND REDUCING ROD SEGMENTS This invention relates generally to cigarette making machines, and more particularly to such machines in which the single cigarettes are obtained from a continuous cigarette rod through transversal cadenced rod cutting.

Generally, the single cigarettes are obtained directly from the rod by cutting the rod into successive segments each having a length equal to that desired for a cigarette. For this purpose rotary cutting devices are used in which the blade axis of rotation is oblique in relation to the longitudinal axis of the rod and forms with the rod a predetermined angle, while the blade cutting plane is inclined the same angle in relation to the blade axis of rotation so as to be perpendicular to the rod longitudinal axis. This enables the blade to cut the rod transversely and, at the same time, to follow it in its advancing motion during the cutting operation so that the cutting sections obtained are perfectly perpendicular to the rod, without interfering with the continuous rod advancement.

To accompany and support the rod while it is cut, there have been proposed movable tubes, called ledgers, within which the rod slides freely during its continuous axial advancing movement while the ledgers are cyclically moved forward and backward, coaxially to the rod and in synchronism and timed relationship with the cutoff operation.

The rectilinear reciprocating motion ledger provides a rod support in the cutting area and during the cutting operation, however, the entire operation becomes critical in the very high output cigarette makers because the cutting rate depends directly on the frequency of the rectilinear reciprocating motion of the rod guiding ledger, the speed of which cannot exceed the limits imposed by the practical requirement of not exceeding certain maximum values tolerated by the forces of inertia in the elements which determine said reciprocating motion.

Accordingly, the present invention provides means for obtaining single cigarettes from a continuous rod by cutting from the rod a segment having a length which is a multiple of that of a cigarette and by reducing said segment into single cigarettes by one or more successive cuts before another or succeeding segment is cut from the rod; the segment being guided and supported in axial 'alignment and in motion with the continuous rod until this reduction is completed through such consecutive cuts. Preferably, segments of twice the length of a normal cigarette are cut from the rod, so that the reduction of a segment involves the cutting of said segment in the middle of its length.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device comprising essentially a rotary cutoff having more than one and preferably two cutting blades angularly offset from each other around a common axis of rotation and so spaced along said axis so as to cross the rod path at different times and in cutting areas interspaced between each other along said path, in relation to the predetermined length of the cigarettes to be obtained, and a plurality of rod guiding supports each being associated with a different blade with the timed relationship between the reciprocating movements of the rod guide supports depending on the said angular blade offsetaroundthe common axis ofblade rotation.

According to the present invention, the frequencies of the rod guide supports are smaller than that which would be required in case of direct cutting of the single cigarettes from a rod moving axially at the same speed. This reduction, together with the timed difference between the rod guide reciprocating motions, lead to a substantial reduction of the forces of inertia, which would not normally permit the use of such reciprocating rod guides with very high output machines.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevation of a rod cutting and guide device made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken in an area intermediate the lines lll lll of P10. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, a cigarette maker machine (shown only in part) in accordance with the pre ent invention is provided with a novel device 1 for cutting a continuous cigarette rod B into individual cigarettes S. The device 1 includes a support or splined shaft 2 which is rotatable on its geometrical axis 102 which is angularly offset or oblique in relation to the longitudinal axis of the rod B. The axis 102 and the axis of the rod B form a predetermined angle or angle of offset (alpha) the value or degree of which depends upon the predetermined length of the cigarettes S to be cut from the rod B and the production speed of the cigarette maker machine which, in effect, is the axial speed of the rod B.

The support or splined shaft 2 is rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced arms 103 and 203 of a stirrup or head having a base or bight portion 303 from which the arms extend. The stirrup or head is connected to a fixed part 4 of the machine by a plurality of fasteners 5 each of which extends through a different arcuate slot 403 in the base 303. All of the slots 403 have a common center around which they are described and by loosening the fastener means 5 the stirrup or head can be rotated around the common center of the slots 403 to adjust or change the angle of offset. A reference notch and a graduated plate associated with the head and fixed machine part 4 provide indicia means 6 to facilitate positioning of the head.

A shaft 7, mounted in the arm 203 of the head, is connected through a pair of meshed bevel gears 8 and 9 to rotatably drive the support or splined shaft 2. A pair of axially spaced disks l0 and 11 are mounted on the shaft 2 and are provided with supporting heads 110 and 111, respectively, for carrying respective cutting blades 13 and 14. The blades 13 and 14 are positioned so their cutting planes are perpendicular to the axis of the cigarette rod B and in a two blade system, as shown, the disks l0 and 11 are relatively disposed to position or angularly offset the blades 13 and 14 by l from each other so that a cutting operation is accomplished, alternately by the blades, during each half a revolution of the support or splined shaft 2. Thus, the disk 10 with its blade 13 and blade support forms one rod cutter and the disk 11 with its blade 14 and blade support 111 forms another rod cutter. J

A pair of rod supporting means 15 and 16 are operatively associated with the rod cutter means and each I includes a ledger 17 which is axially aligned with and passes the cigarette rod B. The supporting means 15 is provided with a forked member 18 for mounting a ledger 17 generally in the rod cutting area of the blade 13. The forked member 18 is mounted on the free end of a leaf spring means 20 which is adjustably connected at its other end to a part 104 of the machine by suitable fastening means 22. The supporting means 16, being similar to the supporting means 15, is provided with a forked member 19, corresponding to the forked member 18, for mounting the other ledger 17 generally in the rod cutting area of the blade 14. The forked member 19 is mounted on the free end of a leaf spring means 21, corresponding to leaf spring means 20, which is adjustably connected to the machine part 104 by suitable fastening means 23 corresponding to fastening means 22.

The two ledgers 17 are required to reciprocate substantially rectilinearly along the axis of the cigarette rod B, in opposition to each other, to provide paths for the blades 13 and 14 when they cut the rod B and to support the rod on both sides of each of these paths. To accomplish this, the shaft 7 is suitably connected by gearing or a gear train 127 to a coupling 25 which, in turn, is suitably connected by gearing or a gear train 27 to rotatably drive a shaft on which are mounted a pair of disks 24. A connecting rod 28 is connected at one end to the forked member 18 of the supporting means 15 and at its other end to one of the disks 24 by a crank pin 124. Another connecting rod 29 is connected at one end to the forked member 19 of the supporting means 16 and at its other end to the other disk 24 by a crank pin 224.

The crank pins 124 and 224 are disposed diametrically opposite to one another or in diametrically opposite positions relative to the shaft upon which the disks 24 are mounted. Therefore, when the disks 24 are rotatably driven by shaft 7 the connecting arms 28 and 29 cause the supporting means 15 and 16 to reciprocate each in a direction opposite to the other. This moves one of the ledgers 17 in the direction of travel of the rod B as indicated by the arrows F (see FIGS. 1 and 2) while the other ledger 17 moves in the opposite direction.

The axial distance between the intermediate positions of the reciprocating travel of the ledgers l7 determines the lengths of the cigarettes to be cut from rod B and this distance is set to equal twice the desired cigarette length by adjusting the connecting means 22 and 23 for the leaf spring means 20 and 21, respectively. Because of the offset angle of the axis 102 of the shaft 2 from the axis of the rod B the blades 13 and 14 have an axial component of movement in the direction of the arrows F as they are rotated through the cigarette rod and at those times the associated ledgers 17 must also 9 time the rod advances into the ledger 17 of the supporting means 16 a distance twice the desired length of a cigarette S while the blade 13 cuts each segment in half to provide two individual cigarettes S before the cutting of the succeeding segment from the rod B. A fixed intermediate ledger 30 is provided between the ledgers 17 to insure support of the front end of rod B and the segment therefrom when it is cut from the rod.

As already discussed, a preestablished length of the cut cigarettes involves a certain correlation between the linear rod advancing speed and the angular speed of rotary support or shaft 2. Furthermore, said length determines also the distance between disks l0 and 11 along support or shaft 2 and, consequently, the distance between springs means 20 and 21 to which the forked ledger supports 18 and 19 are fastened. In view of the possibility of obtaining different cigarette lengths, means are provided for adjusting said intervening distances and for changing the rotary speed of support 2. Obviously, it will be necessary to adjust the inclination of the cutoff geometrical axis of rotation 102, which is accomplished by rotating the base 303 of the cutoff support head around the center of the slots 403, as well as the travel of ledgers 17, for instance, by moving crank pins 124 and 224 in relation to the axis of rotation of disks 24 by conventional means such as the slots 403, etc. The timing between the rotation of blades 13 and 14 and the rectilinear reciprocating motion of ledgers 17 could be obtained, for instance, by making the coupling 25 adjustable.

Accordingly, it should be understood that with a device in accordance with the present application the frequency of the rectilinear reciprocation of the ledgers 17 is half of the frequency that would be required if a single blade and ledger were used to cut single cigarettes from a continuous rod. Further, the forces of inertia resulting from reciprocating motion are reduced because the rectilinear reciprocation of the ledgers 17 is in timed opposition.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of the. parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A method of cutting a cigarette rod comprising the steps of continuously advancing said cigarette rod axially,

cutting segments of predetermined lengths each equal to multiple cigarettes from the advancing rod, and

cutting each segment into cigarettes of equal predetermined lengths before the next succeeding segment is cut from the continuous rod.

2. The method of making cigarettes in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of,

continuously advancing the segments axially at a speed at least equal to the advancing speed of the continuous rod while such segments are being cut into cigarette lengths.

3. The method of making cigarettes in accordance with claim 2 further comprising the steps of presenting the rod to a ledger and cuttingmeans for cutting a segment from the rod, and

presenting each of the segments to a different ledger and cutting meanseach time such a segment is cut to provide an individual cigarette.

4. Apparatus for cutting an axially advancing cigarette rod into cigarettes of equal predetermined lengths, comprising rotatable cutter means including at least two blades each moving in a circular path through the cigarette rod and having a plane substantially normal to the axis of the cigarette rod as it passes therethrough,

one of said blades arranged to cut cutting means advancing rod into successive segments of equal predetermined length and the other of said blades being arranged to cut each segment into cigarette of equal length before the next succeeding segment is cut from the cigarette rod,

reciprocating means providing rod supports operatively associated with said blades,

said rod supports being reciprocated in axial alignment with the advancing cigarette rod for supporting the advancing end of the rod and the portions cut therefrom, and

means for driving said rotatable and reciprocating means in timed relationship with each other and the speed of the advancing cigarette rod.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and said reciprocating means comprising a pair of leaf spring means each adjustably mounted at one end,

said rod supports having ledgers each being mounted at the other end of a different one of said leaf spring means,

said ledgers being spaced from one another along the path of the rod.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, and said driving means including crank means connected to the other ends of said leaf spring means causing such ends to reciprocate in opposition to each other, and

one of said ledgers moving in the direction of the advancing cigarette rod while the other of said ledgers moving in the opposite direction thereto.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and said rotatable cutter means comprising a rotatably driven shaft,

means for supporting said shaft and for permitting rotation of said support means on an axis transverse to said shaft to angularly offset said shaft from the axis of the cigarette rod,

a pair of blade mounting means mounted on said shaft and said blades each mounted on a different one of said mounting means,

said blade mounting means being axially as well as angularly adjustable thereby axially and angularly spacing said blades one from the other.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, and, said reciprocating means comprising a pair of leaf spring means each adjustably mounted at one end, and

said rod supports being ledgers each being mounted at the other end of a different one of said leaf spring means.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and said driving means including crank means connected to the other ends of said leaf spring means causing such ends to reciprocate in opposition to each other, and,

one of said ledgers moving in the direction of the advancing cigarette rod while the other of said ledgers is moving in the opposite direction thereto.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and said driving means comprising a single power input,

gear means drivingly connecting said power input to said shaft of said rotatable cutter means,

said crank means being drivingly connected to said reciprocating means, and

gear means drivingly connecting said power input to said crank means. 

1. A method of cutting a cigarette rod comprising the steps of continuously advancing said cigarette rod axially, cutting segments of predetermined lengths each equal to multiple cigarettes from the advancing rod, and cutting each segment into cigarettes of equal predetermined lengths before the next succeeding segment is cut from the continuous rod.
 2. The method of making cigarettes in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of, continuously advancing the segments axially at a speed at least equal to the advancing speed of the continuous rod while such segments are being cut into cigarette lengths.
 3. The method of making cigarettes in accordance with claim 2 further comprising the steps of presenting the rod to a ledger and cutting means for cutting a segment from the rod, and presenting each of the segments to a different ledger and cutting means each time such a segment is cut to provide an individual cigarette.
 4. Apparatus for cutting an axially advancing cigarette rod into cigarettes of equal predetermined lengths, comprising rotatable cutter means including at least two blades each moving in a circular path through the cigarette rod and having a plane substantially normal to the axis of the cigarette rod as it passes therethrough, one of said blades arranged to cut the advancing rod into successive segments of equal predetermined length and the other of said blades being arranged to cut each segment into cigarette of equal length before the next succeeding segment is cut from the cigarette rod, reciprocating means providing rod supports operatively associated with said blades, said rod supports being reciprocated in axial alignment with the advancing cigarette rod for supporting the advancing end of the rod and the portions cut therefrom, and means for driving said rotatable and reciprocating means in timed relationship with each other and the speed of the advancing cigarette rod.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and said reciprocating means comprising a pair of leaf spring means each adjustably mounted at one end, said rod supports having ledgers each being mounted at the other end of a different one of said leaf spring means, said ledgers being spaced from one another along the path of the rod.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, and said driving means including crank means connected to the other ends of said leaf spring means causing such ends to reciprocate in opposition to each other, and one of said ledgers moving in the direction of the advancing cigarette rod while the other of said ledgers moving in the opposite direction thereto.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and said rotatable cutter means comprising a rotatably driven shaft, means for supporting said shaft and for permitting rotation of said support means on an axis transverse to said shaft to angularly offset said shaft from the axis of the cigarette rod, a pair of blade mounting means mounted on said shaft and said blades each mounted on a different one of said mounting means, said blade mounting means being axially as well as angularly adjustable thereby axially and angularly spacing said blades one from the other.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, and, said reciprocating means comprising a pair of leaf spring means each adjustably mounted at one end, and said rod supports being ledgers each being mounted at the other end of a different one of said leaf spring means.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and said driving means including crank means connected to the other ends of said leaf spring means causing such ends to reciprocate in opposition to each other, and, one of said ledgers moving in the direction of the advancing cigarette rod while the other of said ledgers is moving in the opposite direction thereto.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and said driving means comprising a single power input, gear means drivingly connecting said power input to said shaft of said rotatable cutter means, said crank means being drivingly connected to said reciprocating means, and gear means drivingly connecting said power input to said crank means. 